Description

Do you work with children and adolescents with autism who exhibit behaviors that interfere with their ability to effectively and efficiently navigate their environment? They appear willful, obnoxious, over reactive and unfeeling. They lose control of their ability to cope or regulate their behavior, which can send them spiraling into a meltdown. And, you feel frustrated, powerless and helpless after each meltdown.

Drawing on over 40 years of professional and personal experience, Kathy will lead you through dynamic discussion, video case examples and demonstrations providing dozens of strategies you can implement immediately with these children/adolescents—in any setting. Walk away with an array of practical strategies for:

Preventing and de-escalating meltdowns

Teaching and promoting appropriate behaviors

Providing instructional consequences/replacement behaviors

Developing self-control and self-management skills

… and more!

“Teach them in the way they learn” will be a mantra throughout the seminar.

Analyze functions of behavior to determine if a child with autism is having a tantrum or meltdown to inform intervention strategies.

Implement intervention strategies to target social-communication skills deficits and subsequent behavior difficulties in children with autism.

Utilize a “breathe card” and emotions chart as intervention strategies to develop self-control and self-management skills in children with autism.

Design optimal therapy/classroom environment to manage overstimulation and sensory breakdowns in children with autism.

Determine specific intervention strategies to defuse explosive behaviors and de-escalate meltdowns in children with autism.

Integrate change of schedule cues and transition markers in therapy/classroom to reduce symptoms of anxiety in children with autism.

Functions of a Meltdown

Tantrum vs. meltdown

Stages of a meltdown

Sensory issues vs. behavior issues

Meltdown video

Strategies for the Meltdown Cycle: Intervention, Prevention and Post-vention

Sensory Issues

Optimal learning environments

Easy-to-use sensory tools

Overstimulation and sensory breakdowns

Incorporate a sensory lifestyle throughout the day

Executive Function

Increase attention and focus

Strengthen motivation and engagement

On-task and task completion skills

Visual reminders for routines and predictability

Visual structure for organization

Self-Regulation

Develop self-control and self-monitoring skills

Tools for self-feedback

Use high focus and interest areas as powerful incentives to change behavior

Social/Emotional Communication

Communication for positive social interaction

Appropriate interactions with their peers

First-person stories for positive behavior changes and affirmations

Explosive Behaviors

Recognize the triggers

Reduce symptoms of anxiety

Modeling appropriate behavior

Defuse explosive behaviors

Decrease maladaptive behaviors

Increase appropriate behaviors

Special Considerations

Collaboration with parents/caregivers

Strategies for helping the parent/caregiver with grief

Techniques for After the Meltdown

Strategies for instructional consequences

Chart appropriate/inappropriate behaviors

Activities for reviewing behaviors when calm

Use cartooning to facilitate feedback

Strategies for providing systematic feedback

Reinforcement for communication strategies

Identify feelings and review behavior

Hands-on and Small Group Activities

Demonstration video

Small group exercises: Brainstorm appropriate and meaningful replacement behaviors

KATHY MORRIS, M.ED., B.S.

Kathy Morris, M.Ed., B.S., has over 42 years of experience working with children and adolescents with severe behavioral difficulties including those with autism, ADHD and executive dysfunction. During this time, she has collaborated with families, educators, counselors, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and medical professionals throughout the world.

Kathy has been a speech therapist, teacher for self-contained programs, resource teacher and first grade teacher. She was a diagnostician/supervisor for all grade levels. Kathy was a LIFE Skills/autism/behavior/assistive technology consultant at a Texas education service center before leaving to start her own business in 1999.

Kathy has keynoted many national/international conferences. She is a frequent guest on a local news program promoting research-based techniques for working with children and adolescents with ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and executive functioning differences. Kathy provides technical assistance in classrooms across the U.S, Canada, and several international countries.

Her video, Facilitating the Classroom Learning of Students with Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism, Grades K-6, has been an addition for campus and district staff developments as well as for those in clinical practice. In addition, she has an audio CD, Practical Strategies for Working with Students with Social Cognitive Differences in the General Education Classroom.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Kathy Morris maintains a private practice. She has authored an audio product and a DVD product which are published by the Bureau of Education & Research. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.

Nonfinancial: Kathy Morris is the mother of adult children with autism spectrum disorders.